Azimuth angle adjusting device for a tape player

Abstract

A cassette player or recorder having a device for adjusting the azimuth angle of a read head during playback. An azimuth angle adjusting member is controlled by two pulling strings for moving the member in opposite directions, the strings being separately tensioned, and being moved by a correction knob on the front panel of the apparatus.

I claim: 
     
       1. A magnetic tape player, comprising: a frame having an accessible location for controls,   a magnetic read head, and   means for mounting the magnetic read head for scanning magnetic signals on magnetic tape in the player, said mounting means including an azimuth-angle correction device for correcting an incorrect azimuth-angle position of the read head relative to a track on the magnetic tape, said correction device comprising a pivoting plate mounted pivotably relative to said frame, the magnetic head being carried on the pivoting plate and arranged so that pivoting of the plate affects the azimuth-angle position of the head, and a movable pivoting member arranged for pivoting said plate responsive to movement of said member,   characterized in that the azimuth-angle correction device further comprises a manually operable correction knob movably mounted to said frame at said accessible location,   two transversely flexible tension members each having first and second ends, each being connected near the respective first end to the correction knob and near the respective second end to said pivoting member, respectively arranged to couple movement in opposite respective directions of the correction knob to the pivoting member, and   resilient means for tensioning said two tension members at said first ends so as to prevent slackening of the tension members, whereby lost motion in the azimuth-angle correction device is eliminated.   
     
     
       2. A player as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said correction knob is rotatable, and said device includes first drum means coaxially connected to the correction knob, near their first ends the two tension members being wound about the drum means at least a part of one turn in senses opposite each other, and second drum means operably connected to said pivoting member, near their second ends the flexible members being respectively wound onto the second drum means for at least a part of a turn in senses opposite each other. 
     
     
       3. A player as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that said first drum means comprises two drums, each tension member being wound about a respective drum. 
     
     
       4. A player as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that said correction knob includes a spindle rotatable about a first axis, said two first drums being coaxial with the first axis and axially movable on the spindle, and the device further comprises a disc rigidly connected to said spindle coaxial with the first axis, said disc and said two first drums having confronting end surfaces,   resilient means for urging said confronting end surfaces of the disc and the two first drums against each other in the axial direction, and   means for rotationally coupling and decoupling said end surfaces to each other so as to enable the first drums to be rotated relative to each other and to said disc to align the correction knob to a neutral position when the read head is in a neutral position.   
     
     
       5. A player as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that said means for coupling comprises a multiplicity of radially extending ridges formed in said end surfaces, whereby upon slight axial displacement of the drums over a distance at least equal to the height of said ridges, the drums may be rotated relative to each other and the disc. 
     
     
       6. A player as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 characterized in that the pivoting member comprises a gear segment rotatable about a second axis, and the device further includes a pinion coaxially connected to said second drum means and rotatable about a third axis, said pinion meshing with said gear segment.